The Dangers of the Recycling Industry – Radio 5 Live Investigates
- Feb 27, 2015
- EmmaArnold
Our Senior Solicitor, Richard Edwards, recently spoke about his experiences in acting for people who have come by their injuries through the waste and recycling industry on Radio 5 Live Investigates with Adrian Goldberg.
In the report, Mr Edwards discussed how waste and recycling is a high-risk industry. Individuals working in this field face a much higher risk of sustaining a serious injury than those working in agriculture or construction.
For example, the major injury rate per 100,000 employees in waste and recycling presently stands at 363.2. The equivalent rate in agriculture is 193.8 and in construction it is 150.1.
Whilst there have been recent improvements in the safety record, the Health and Safety figures clearly show there is an ongoing problem in this industry that needs to be tackled. PotterReesDolan frequently acts for individuals who have suffered very serious injuries in the waste and recycling sector.
Also featured in the programme was one of Richard’s clients, Phil Grace, who spoke about an accident he had whilst working at a waste and recycling plant and which resulted in him losing his right arm below the elbow. He says:
I hope that this report will see improvements in the industry and that in the future the safety of workers will be put before production targets.
To hear Richard feature on the programme, please press play below: